View full sizeFaith Cathcart/The OregonianMuslim community members and others gathering for Mustafa Elogbi at Portland International Airport.

The second of two Portland-area men who found themselves barred from flying home last month after visiting Libya arrived at Portland International Airport this morning.

The airplane carrying Mustafa Elogbi of Southwest Portland touched down at PDX about 11:40 a.m. Once off the aircraft, Elogbi headed for customs. His daughter Alaa Elogbi says finally they feel "a sense of relief."

Several supporters of Elogbi were at the airport to show support for Elogbi and Jamal Tarhuni of Tigard, who was able to return to Portland last week after being prevented from returning to the United States for a few weeks. Some of them held signs saying "stop no-fly coercion!" and "protect the rights of all US citizens!" as they waited for Elogbi.

Others held signs asking "who is Brian Zinn?" referring to the Portland-based FBI agent believed to be involved in Elogbi's detainment.

About 12:45 p.m., it was reported that Elogbi had been separated from his attorney, who protested the move. He said it was unlawful for customs officials to refuse Elogbi to remain with his attorney.

Elogbi, 60, had gone to Libya last November to visit family after Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi was ousted, more than three decades after Elogbi left the country and moved to Oregon.

But while flying home last month, he was detained during his layover in London by British authorities. They said they were stopping him at the request of the United States, his lawyer, Tom Nelson, said.

They interrogated him, asking about his relatives in Libya and about his religious beliefs, Nelson said. Elogbi, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Southwest Portland, is Muslim. He was held in solitary confinement for two days before being forced to return to Tunisia.

Elogbi originally was to return last week with Nelson and Tarhuni, who is also Muslim. But on the day before the three were to leave, the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia told Elogbi that he would have to delay his flight at least 24 hours. He changed his plans to return today, in order to allow Nelson time to return to Tunisia after accompanying Tarhuni back to Portland.